Die Jäger des Schicksals » Christmas break to host the Winnipeg Jets

(SportsNetwork.com) - The Minnesota Wild hope to return to the win column Saturday, when the struggling club emerges from the Christmas break to host the Winnipeg Jets in the opener of a home-and-home series. Minnesota made it to the second round of last springs playoffs and was a favorite to return to the postseason in 2014-15. Things have not gone as planned, however, and the Wild find themselves six points out of a playoff spot in the West. The Wild also are sitting fifth in the Central Division -- eight points behind the fourth-place Jets and just one ahead of Colorado. Minnesota is currently mired in a four-game losing streak (0-2-2), matching the clubs 0-4 mark from Nov. 4-11 for its lengthiest skid of the season. The Wild havent dropped five straight since an 0-6 slide from Dec. 19-31 of last season. The usually sting Wild have imploded defensively during their current slide, allowing a total of 19 goals over the four setbacks. Minnesota yielded five goals in Tuesdays setback to the Philadelphia Flyers, who posted a 5-2 win to drop the Wild to 0-1-2 on a four-game homestand. Marco Scandella and Charlie Coyle scored against the Flyers. Darcy Kuemper stopped 25 shots in the setback. I think its a blessing that we have three days off to step away, said Wild forward Matt Cooke. Kuemper was pressed into duty for Niklas Backstrom after the latter netminder was a late scratch due to an illness. Its uncertain who will get the call in net tonight. Mike Yeos club hopes its recent success against the Jets can help it get back on track. The Wild posted a 4-3 overtime win over a visiting Winnipeg club on Nov. 16, giving Minnesota wins in two straight and five of the last six meetings in this series. The Wild are 6-1-1 with a tie in nine all-time home tests against the Atlanta/Winnipeg franchise. The clubs will meet again in Mondays rematch at MTS Centre. Winnipeg finished its pre-break schedule on a four-game point streak (3-0-1) and it posted an impressive victory in its final tilt before the hiatus. The Jets visited Chicago on Tuesday and slammed the Central Division-leading Blackhawks, 5-1. Mathieu Perreault continued his hot play of late with two goals to lift Winnipeg in the rout at United Center. Perreault has tallied five goals and four assists over an eight-game point streak and Tuesdays performance was his first multi-point game of the run. Blake Wheeler finished with a goal and an assist, Bryan Little and Anthony Peluso also scored and Andrew Ladd supplied two helpers for the Jets. Michael Hutchinson, who posted a 33-save shutout in Winnipegs 1-0 over Chicago on Nov. 2, was stellar once again, turning aside 38 shots for the win. Hutchinson was good for us and made some key saves at the right times, said Perreault. When we got our chances, we were able to put them in. Jets coach Paul Maurice may continue his goaltender rotation tonight and give Ondrej Pavelec the start over Hutchinson. Pavelec is 2-2-1 with a 2.55 goals against average in seven career outings against Minnesota. Custom Chicago Bears Jerseys . You can watch all the action on TSN and TSN GO beginning at 8:30pm et/5:30pm pt. Minnesota dropped the first two tests of this best-of-seven set at Chicagos United Center and was outscored by a combined 9-3 margin in those setbacks. However, the Wild righted themselves at home by taking Game 3 by a 4-0 count before knotting the series at two games apiece with Fridays 4-2 triumph at Xcel Energy Center. Dick Butkus Jersey . -- Edwin Encarnacion hit a three-run homer, Colby Rasmus drove in two runs and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Detroit Tigers 9-4 on Saturday. http://www.officialchicagobearspro.com/William-perry-bears-jersey/ .ca look back at each of the Top 10 stories of 2013. Today, we look back at LeBron James and the Miami Heat winning their second straight NBA championship. Dan Hampton Jersey . -- During Kansas shootaround on Wednesday before the Jayhawks faced Oklahoma, coach Bill Self told Wayne Selden Jr. Mike Ditka Jersey .7 million, one-year contract.The deal, announced Friday, includes a $50,000 performance bonus if the left-hander appears in 60 games.SEATTLE -- The Seattle Mariners wallet is still open. They reached agreement Thursday on a $14 million, two-year deal with reliever Fernando Rodney, according to a person familiar with the deal. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the agreement was subject to a physical. The deal, first reported by ESPN, also includes performance bonuses. The agreement with Rodney is general manager Jack Zdurienciks latest splurge in a busy off-season. Seattles big splash was the signing of second baseman Robinson Cano to a $240 million, 10-year contract, but the team followed with deals for Corey Hart, Logan Morrison and John Buck Rodney had 37 saves for Tampa Bay last season, appearing in 68 games. He saved 85 games in two seasons for the Rays and will be reunited with new Seattle manager Lloyd McClendon. The pair was together in Detrooit where Rodney pitched from 2002-09 and was one of the top relievers in baseball.dddddddddddd After two down seasons with the Los Angeles Angels, Rodney revitalized his career with an All-Star season for the Rays in 2012 and another solid campaign in 2013. Rodney had a career-best 48 saves and a 0.60 ERA with the Rays in 2012. Rodney will go into spring training with the chance to claim the closer role for the Mariners. It was a position of inconsistency a year ago with Tom Wilhelmsen starting the season as the Mariners closer before struggles led to Danny Farquhar getting an opportunity. Wilhelmsen finished with 24 saves but none after July 28 when he was sent down to Triple-A Tacoma and appeared in eight games. Farquhar took over as Seattles closer in August and had 16 saves. AP Sports Writer Ronald Blum contributed to this report. 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